The Falcons’ offense has been inconsistent scoring touchdowns in the red zone this season.
The offense has made 54 trips inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and has scored points 48 times (88.9 percent), which ranks seventh in the NFL. They have scored 28 touchdowns (51.9 percent), which ranks 16th. The total of 256 points scored in the red zone ranks eighth.
Against the Saints, a possible first-round playoff opponent, they have had to settle for five red-zone field goals, with no touchdowns, in two games. The offense will be on the hot seat Sunday to score touchdowns against Tampa Bay.
Falcons coach Mike Smith and his staff plan to first look at the plays that are being called and the schemes that are being run.
“Then we look at the other things,” Smith said.
He scoffed at the notion of putting some additional red-zone work into the practice schedule.
“We’re not going to change our practice schedule at this time of the year,” Smith said. “We’ve got a specific number of snaps that we’re going to run. We’re not going to run more snaps, but we’re going to take, like we always do, a good hard look at it.”
One thing is certain, he wants a different result.
“If we get down there, we’ve got to score touchdowns and not kick field goals,” Smith said.
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